05 January 2012

First Date by Krista McGee

Addy Davidson discovers God's unexpected plans for her life when a reality TV show turns her quiet existence on its head.
The orphaned daughter of missionaries, Addy is quite content to stay in the shadows and never draw attention to herself. But when she's selected for a reality TV show to try to become the President son's prom date-a show she didn't audition for-she's suddenly in America's spotlight.

The lights, the make-up, the competitions, and the blogs discussing every move she makes all make Addy incredibly uncomfortable. But through her time at The Mansion, Addy comes to realize that first impressions aren't always right, that hiding out may not be what God had planned for her life, and that her faith should affect everything she does. It may just be that her selection wasn't random at all and that she's on this show "for such a time as this."

Addy Davidson is just another shy teenage girl who lives in Tampa, Florida and goes to a small Christian school. She's never been one to stand out of the crowd, let alone manage to talk to a guy she's been crushing on for years.

There's no way Addy could win over the United States' President's son's heart but that's what is expected out of her when she gets selected to star in a reality show where she has to compete from girls across the nation.
I was really looking forward to reading this but ended up being disappointed. I'm a sucker for reality shows - The Hills, ANTM, Biggest Loser anyone?

It's not that the book wasn't written well but I just never could really get into it. I love God, I really do. I believe in God and while I respect everyone for their beliefs, I don't personally care for religion. It's all the same to me. So Addy being a strong willed Christian didn't bother me. In fact, there were times when I could appreciate her thoughts and relate to her doubts and insecurities, like when she was afraid to be asked about her faith among people who are non-believers.

I think the problem for me was that I couldn't see the story go both ways. Reality shows are supposed to be fun and a cheap indulgence, so having the topic of God mentioned repeatedly in between kind of ruined it for me. It had to be one or the other. The book started out normal enough, a shy teenager freaked out about being on television, with a fun best friend and a life-long crush on a boy who barely seems to notice her.

I started to get interested in the story when all of a sudden something like "God first, Boys Later." popped up. I just couldn't see a girl in real life say something like that, not when every other part of her life is completely normal. Her being a Christian has nothing to do with it. It's a tiny detail, sure, but these parts kind of lost me in between.

Like I said, I guess I expected something and got something different in return. I probably can't blame the book because no one else seemed to feel this way. I just couldn't connect with the story as one minute it was all snotty girls, reality shows and humor and the next it was about the Bible.

'Hiding out may not be what God had planned for her life, and that her faith should affect everything she does. It may just be that her selection wasn't random at all and that she's on this show for such a time as this.'

Having said that, I have to mention that I definitely appreciate 'First Date' for the message it carries. It's a wonderful feeling to believe in something higher than yourself and that you don't plan what happens to you, things happen to you for a reason. While this book wasn't for me, however, if you're a fan of Christian fiction, you may like it.

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